Newsroom
Celebration of International Roma day
PRISTINA 7 April 2000
PRISTINA, 7 April 2000 - A Roma band from Norway will be the highlight of the celebration of the International Roma day in Prizren, Saturday 8 April. OSCE in co-operation with the Prizren-based NGO ROMA, has organized the celebration, which is the first time the International Roma Day has been marked in Kosovo. It is a further step to promote awareness of the situation of the Roma community in Kosovo and to encourage Romas to maintain and develop their culture.
The International Roma Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the First International Roma Congress in London, 8 April 1971, which marked the beginning of a co-ordinated effort to promote Roma rights. The main focus of this year s events will be Kosovo; it will be the first high profile public demonstration of Roma in the province since the end of the armed conflict.
The Roma face a difficult situation in Kosovo today. They have been targeted since the end of the conflict last summer, their communities dispersed. Although Roma have been traditionally excluded from mainstream social structures, they do feel a need to be able to voice their concerns. OSCE supports the initiatives of the Roma community to raise the awareness amongst the public, believing that they should be an active and integral part of Kosovar society.
Part of the celebrations for Roma Day include the Roma band, Raya from Norway and the Kosvo Roma musical group Durmis Aslano will perform in Prizren, where the largest Roma community in Kosovo is. Amongst guest speakers is Mr. Nicolae Gheorghe, the ODIHR (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues.
The program in the Culture house in Prizren starts 11:00, Saturday 8 April. All interested are welcome to attend.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022. Roland Bless, Spokesperson, mobile + 389 70 250 576. By e-mail: press@omik.org. Information on the OSCE Mission in Kosovo: www.osce.org/kosovo
The International Roma Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the First International Roma Congress in London, 8 April 1971, which marked the beginning of a co-ordinated effort to promote Roma rights. The main focus of this year s events will be Kosovo; it will be the first high profile public demonstration of Roma in the province since the end of the armed conflict.
The Roma face a difficult situation in Kosovo today. They have been targeted since the end of the conflict last summer, their communities dispersed. Although Roma have been traditionally excluded from mainstream social structures, they do feel a need to be able to voice their concerns. OSCE supports the initiatives of the Roma community to raise the awareness amongst the public, believing that they should be an active and integral part of Kosovar society.
Part of the celebrations for Roma Day include the Roma band, Raya from Norway and the Kosvo Roma musical group Durmis Aslano will perform in Prizren, where the largest Roma community in Kosovo is. Amongst guest speakers is Mr. Nicolae Gheorghe, the ODIHR (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues.
The program in the Culture house in Prizren starts 11:00, Saturday 8 April. All interested are welcome to attend.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022. Roland Bless, Spokesperson, mobile + 389 70 250 576. By e-mail: press@omik.org. Information on the OSCE Mission in Kosovo: www.osce.org/kosovo